Portable house.



PATENTED MAR. 31:, 1903. J 1). HORTON.

PORTABLE "HOUSE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 11, 1901.

21.0 MODEL.

INVENTOR A TTORN E Y.

5 mzns ca. mtommq wunmo'ron n z:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE.

JAMES D. HORTON, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

PORTABLE HOUSE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 724,408, dated March 31, 1903.

Application filed February 11, 1901. Serial No. 46,866, (No model.)

To all whom it mat/concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. HORTON, a citizen of the United States of America, and a resident of Seattle, in the county of King and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Portable Houses, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to separable buildings, and has special reference to structures of this class commonly known as portable houses, and I have for the objects thereof to provide a strong and durable knowndown build ing embodying essential structural features which simplify erection and separation, facilitate transportation when collapsed, reduce the cost of manufacture, and render the structure comfortable in opposite extremes of temperature.

In addition to the above-mentioned objects others equally desirable are attained by the constructions, combinations, and arrangement of parts as disclosed on the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification, and succinctly set forth in the appended claims.

With reference to the aforementioned drawings, introduced as a part of this specification, Figure l is a perspective view of a portion of a separable building indicated in broken sec tion to disclose the embodiment of the features of my invention; Fig. 2 is a vertical transverse section through one side of same with the panel comprising the wall removed. Fig. 3 is a transverse section of one of the rafters with portions of the roof-sections in relative position. Fig. 4 is ahorizontal transverse section of the sides of the building at one corner. Fig. 5 is a transverse section, on large scale, of a portion of one of the panels comprising the walls; and Fig. 6 is a perspective View, on large scale, of one corner of the sill and the lower extremity of a post separated therefrom.

Like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

In the present and preferred embodiment of my invention the reference character A indicates the panels adapted for the Walls of the building; B, the sill; O, the studs; D, the

posts; E, the cap F, the rafters; G, sections b, which portions are preferably flush at their 7 outer side surfaces, while the latter portion is of a less width than the former to permit the floor-joists I to rest thereon, Fig. 2, and is preferably formed with a rabbet longitudinally the outer edge of the upper surface to provide steps consisting of horizontal surfaces 9 and 10 and a vertical surface 11, which insures a tight juncture of the wallpanels'with the sill and provides for a stable setting of the studs. This stepping is terminated at each point where it is desirable to erect posts, as D, by reducing the surface 9 to a level with the surface 10, and thereby affording an even footing for the ends of the posts, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Suitable indentures, as 12, are conveniently formed in the outer edge of the step 9 at desirable points to receive the ends of the studs, and preferably consist of rectangular notches having their bottom surfaces pitched downwardly from the outer edge, so as to draw the studs well to place when set, thereby facilitating the erection of the studs and increasing the stability of the structure, as will be understood from the following.

The studs 0 are each formed with a rabbet, as 14:, along each outer edge substantially equal in depth to the width of the steps 10 of the subportion of the sill and likewise equal tothe thickness of the panels A, and the lower ends of the studs are cut diagonally to form a shoulder conforming to the bottom surface of the notches 12, while the tongues 13, in-

cluded between the rabbets 14, are extended beyond said shoulder to lie in abutment with the step 10 and against the vertical surface 11 when the studs are brought to place as promoted by the angularity of the bottom of the indentures 12, and thereby assisting to stay the studs in their erected position. upper ends of the studs are preferably terminated by square cuts to receive the cap in any ordinary manner.

Each corner-post D is preferably formed with rectangular grooves, as d, longitudinally adjacent faces and substantially equal in The.

width to the thickness of the panels A at their inner edges and formed to 'lie in line with the steps 9 of the subportion of the sill B when the post is set. The lower extremity of the post is preferably terminated by an L- shaped portion (1, extended beyond a square shoulder, as (1 thereof, so as to embrace the corner of the sill when the said shoulder rests upon same, thereby facilitating the setting of the post and rendering its juncture with the sill more rigid. The upper extremity of the post is preferably made substantially square to receive the cap E, which comprises in the present instance'rectangular strips substantially equal in width to the thickness of the posts D and is positioned thereupon in any ordinary or desirable manner.

The cap E is adapted to support suitable stantially like a stud O,with a rabbetfin each corner of the outer face, and the tongue f formed thereby is extended beyond a shoulder 15, cut at a requisite angle to bring the rafter to a desired pitch when the shoulder is set upon the top surface of the cap, with the said tongue extensions projecting beyond the sides of the building for the formation of the eaves.

The roof-sections G are each formed of a series of slats, as g, secured together by a fabricated covering it, of canvas or like cloth, fastened to their under surfaces and adapted to permit the section to be formed into a roll when separated from the building, and the section is covered with a strip 71., of elastic Waterproof material, as rubberoid suitably secured on the upper face when the section is in place. A single section G is preferably made to extend from the eaves to the ridge and is substantially equal in thickness to the depth of the rabbetf and adapted to fit between the tongues of the rafters, when suitable clamping-strips, as k, are fastened to the faces of said tongues by bolts, as 16, adapted to clamp the elastic waterproof covering in place and the roof-section between the strips and bottoms of rabbets, thereby elfecting a Watertight seam.

Each panel A is made up of an inner and outer section of suitable sheeting, as a and a, respectively, which are preferably conveniently rendered impervious to air and are fastened together in separated positions by suitable means extended about the margins, so as to inclose a chamber, as 17, for air, said means conveniently consisting of continuous strips, as 20, interposed between said sections adjacent their edges and to which they are secured in anysuitable manner. Along the edges of each panel is preferably secured a packingstrip, as 21, comprising suitable flexible materialadapted to effect a water and weather proof juncture with the members of the structure lying in abutment with the panel when it is positioned, and a suitable filament lining 22 is in the present embodiment conveniently provided in the panel as an insulation to reducethe penetration of heat or cold to the building. The walls .ofthe building are thus composed of removable panels or units, each of which embodies a desired dead-air chamber, an insulating-lining, and marginal packing-strips combined in a single structure, which is readily placed or removed and is rendered of light weight to facilitate transportation and handling by the preferred combination of materials, as described in the following.

In the present embodiment of the panels the innerv sheeting a consists of a series of suitable strips of wood, as 18, adapted for the interior finish of the structure, and a filament composition facing, as 22, opposed to the outer surface of the boards as insulation against penetration of heat or cold and serves as packing over the boards to render the shooting constantly impervious to air. comprises in the present instance a suitable section of hairy filament composition, known commonly as hair insulator. The outer sheeting a is composed of suitable elastic Waterproof material adapted to shed water and conform to varying temperature without cracking, and preferably consists of a product of this class known commercially as rubberoid, which is suitably fastened in place over the inner sheeting (1 upon the opposite face of the marginal strips 21 by nails or like fastenings passed through outer strips, as 23, op-

posed to the said interposed strips, and said section of rubberoid is preferably reinforced by cleats, as 24, placed between the sheeting, and by strips 25 on the outer surface over said cleats. The packing 21 is preferably composed of strips of rubber secured between the inner sheeting a and the interposed strips 20, with one edge projecting to effect a flexible marginal packing-strip along the edges of the panel.

The sizes of the panels are predetermined in conformity with the design and size of the structure contemplated and ordinarily extend from the sill to the cap, excepting where openings for doors or windows are to be left, and fit between the uprights or posts and studs, which are preferably spaced equally, so as to render the panels interchangeable, thereby providing for the placing of the windows and doors at desirable points determined upon after a selection of a site. Along the edges the panels are equal in thickness to the width of the grooves in the posts D, in which they are forced to fit snugly, and are slightly thicker than the depth of the rabbets in the studs 0, so that suitable clamping-strips, as 27, will bind them firmly to place. These clamping-strips are of sufficient width to cover the tongues of the studs and extend over the edges of the panels and are drawn to place by suitable bolts, as 28, which extend through the stud'-.

ding and clamping-strips in suitable aper tures formed at the factory and are adapted to draw the panel snugly to place to eifect a tight joint thereof with the sill B by forcing This facing the lower edge against the vertical surface.

11, with the flexible packing resting upon the step 10. They likewise effect a tight joint with the studs by forcing the edges of the panels against the bottom of the rabbets, with the flexible packing resting against the side of the tongues, thereby rendering the joints water and weather proof, and also forcing the sheetings of the panels to clamp the interposed marginal strips,

All parts of the structure are first made at the factory of convenient size for transportation to the point of erection, where the sillB is first set and the post D and studs 0 positioned thereon, when the cap E is placed and the rafters F erected. The roof -section G can then beinserted and the clamping-strips k and bolts 16 used to clamp them firmly to place. The panelsA are then set and the clampingstrips 27 and bolts 28 employed to draw them firmly to place, with the top packing-strip conforming to the under surface of the cap E, and the doors and Windows (not shown) provided for in any desirable manner.

A structure made in the foregoing manner is simple of construction, erection, and separation and easily transported in knockdown form. It is, furthermore, durable and lasting, owing to the tight closing of the wall as promoted by the flexible packing-strips and the embodiment of the exterior elastic waterproof sheeting, which conforms to varying and opposite extremes of temperature without cracking or warping. The structure is also rendered comfortable in extremely hot or cold climates, owing to the dead air contained in the chambers inclosed in the panels and the insulation efiected by the filament lining. screws, or like fastenings in erection is almost totally avoided, as but slight fastening of Furthermore, the use of nails,

the posts and studs to the sill and the cap thereupon and the rafters to the cap will suffice, owing to interlocking of the sill with the posts, studs, and panels and also the panels with the posts and studs and the clamping of the roof-sections to the rafters, as hereinbefore set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a structure of the nature indicated; the combination with the sill, having a longitudinal rabbet and indentures in the uppersurface with the bottom pitching downwardly from the outer edge; of studs, each having a shoulder conforming to the bottom ofthe indentures and an end extension adapted to lie in abutment with the bottom and vertical surfaces of the rabbet.

2. In a structure of the nature described, the combination of a removable section hav- 

